Travel Skin Care Tips

Keep Skin Flawless (and TSA Happy) With These Travel Tips

Planning a vacation this Spring? Allure has tips that will ensure your skin stays pristine from wheels up to touch down.

I just got back from a 10-day romp through Vienna, Salzburg, and Paris, and, of course, I packed carry-on-friendly versions of my favorite makeup (Benefit They're Real Mascara Mini ($10), Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks ($6)). But more importantly, I didn't forget to prepare my skin, remembering that the Alps are a lot closer to the sun than my skin is used to. Ellen Marmur, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, told Allure that in the mountains, "The most important thing you can do is protect yourself while you're outside. The sun is intense at that altitude and causes hyperpigmentation in a short amount of time."

So I brought along plenty of hydrating facial moisturizer (my trusty Cetaphil ($11)), Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream Oil ($28) to help soothe any chapped skin or nails, and even though I never normally wear foundation, I tried Clinique BB Cream With SPF 30 ($37) and antioxidants to protect myself from extra-close rays. By the time I was in Paris, my skin looked healthier than ever — so either schnitzel and strudel have an undiscovered dermatological benefit, or my technique worked.

Take it easy. "Tone down drying or potentially irritating ingredients, like alpha hydroxy acids or retinols, and wash with sulfate-free soap," says Marmur. "Also, avoid unnecessary irritation, like peels and resurfacing treatments. Think of it as an elimination diet for your face."

Be efficient.Allure Editor in Chief Linda Wells has streamlined packing for her busy schedule. "My travel kit is always packed, so I'm never starting from scratch — it just needs to be replenished," she says. "I keep a master list of everything I need, then stick a note in my kit whenever I deplete something, so I remember to replace it."

Prepare for the worst. "Every item goes in a Ziploc bag organized by category (hair, teeth, makeup, etc.)," says Wells. "Then I place those bags in a nylon travel kit that I pack with my shoes. If my system fails and something leaks, I don't want it to mess up all my clothes."